DOGS OF WAR

Part II: Old Enemies

By Clayton Tooley

NOTE: This story-arc takes place after Avengers #6 and just after the beginning of West Coast Avengers #1

“What do you mean, the Watchdogs are back, Stark?” John Walker stared into the screen where one of his oldest acquaintances in the super hero biz, Tony Stark, was staring back at him. In the basement laboratory of Dr. Henry Pym, Walker stood with his hands balled into fists, and his face reddening in fury. “I put an end to them.”

“They’ve become active again in Custer’s Grove, Georgia, Agent,” Tony said, his perfectly tanned face and perfectly trimmed goatee irritating the USAgent for some reason.“They’ve gone home, as it were.”

“Yeah, MY home,” Jack said, his hands crunching together with enough PSI (pounds per square inch) to crinkle steel like tinfoil. “Those dirty dog bastards!” With that cry he turned and slammed his hands down onto the laboratory table behind himself, denting the surface and sending pieces of Pym’s project, whatever it was, into the air.

“Agent, calm down!” Pym said, resting a hand on Jack’s shoulder, which he shrugged off.

“No, Pym, you calm down! You have no idea what these dog breaths cost me, what they’ve done to me ever since I first picked up Cap’s shield! They tried to hang my best friend Lemar; then they tried to hang me but only succeeded in slaughtering my parents before my eyes! They’ve cost me more of my soul than anyone I’ve ever faced, and now they’re back and it’s MY fault. I assumed that Cap and I finished them off when we fought them in New Jersey so I never followed up on it. So everyone they have or do kill before I stop them is on my head! You have NO idea how that feels!”

“Oh, really?” Pym said, putting his face directly in front of Jack’s. “Does the name Ultron mean anything to you? Or Slorenia?”

The silence in the laboratory was complete and the suddenly less hostile; abashed look on the Agent’s face would’ve been a comical and welcome sight most other times. But the grief and hatred on Hank Pym’s face for the robot monstrosity Ultron, a being of his own unfortunate creation, was heart rending.

“Or Kang,” Tony said from the monitor, and the look of horror and disgust on his face made Jack feel even worse for his tantrum.

“I…I’m sorry,” Jack said, rubbing his face as if trying to rub out his demons. “It just gets under my skin, you know?”

“Yeah,” Pym said, rubbing his hands, remembering the feeling of beating Ultron into nothingness a while ago. “I know.”

“Listen, John,” Tony said, drawing the attention back to the matter at hand. “The Watchdogs aren’t just the same group of moral high-ground chasing fanatics you’ve faced before. They apparently have reorganized around a high council of some sort, the—”

“Pound Puppies?” Agent quipped, smiling despite himself. He could feel his temper cooling.

“Uh, no,” Tony said, but smiled a little himself, glad for the release of tensions. “The Pack. It’s composed of as many as seven men, all of whom seem to have mechanical enhancements, like cyborgs. Jocasta caught an image of one on a satellite feed.”

Onto the screen popped up an image of a man in the customary Watchdog’s uniform of orange body armor, purple arms and legs and a green visor on an orange helmet. His left arm was clearly mechanical and the attachment sitting on the apparently interchangeable wrist was a flamethrower. He held a shotgun in his other hand and he was wearing a neck brace of some kind, with metal spikes jutting from it. His helmet didn’t look right and Jack realized that it was probably because the man was missing an ear.

It was that little detail more so than the entire missing arm that sparked a leap of intuitive logic that made perfect sense to him. “Oh, shit!” Jack said, stumbling back and resting a hand on the dented table behind him. “Do you know who these guys are?” he asked.

“No,” said Tony, reappearing. Hank shook his head.

“They’re the Watchdogs who survived my rampage in Custer’s Grove all those years ago, right after they killed my parents. I left about a dozen of them in critical condition. I never knew if they survived or not, I was out of it for so long. I…I would’ve thought they would have learned better.”

“I guess not,” Pym said, taking a seat. “So, what’s the plan Tony? What’ve they been up to?”

“Similar to before. Their MO has always been to destroy whatever they believe to be immoral and vulgar in the world and, if anyone disagrees with them or gets in their way, they simply kill them too. They’ve been tearing along the South, taking down porn shops and brothels, but always seem to gravitate back to Custer’s Grove. I don’t—Oh No!”

“WHAT?!” Jack said, standing straight and activating his shield. He just felt better when the familiar weight was on his arm again, even if it was a photonic hologram and not his original shield. “What’s going on, Stark?”

“Look for yourself,” Tony said, changing the view. On it, a house was burning, literally engulfed in flames and disintegrating before their eyes. It was the Walker house in Custer’s Grove, one that had stood empty, the ownership belonging to John Walker’s sister since their parents’ death. She only recently learned that her beloved brother Johnny was alive, and had planned to give the house to him when he was ready. Now it was gone.

“It’s a dare,” the Agent said, his voice so cold Pym thought Iceman would’ve had to turn the heat up. “They’re calling me out.”

“When do we leave?” Tony asked, his image back on the screen.

“We don’t,” Agent said, moving for the door. “It’s me they want, guys, and it’s me they’re gonna get. Stay the hell out of it.”

“Agent…” Tony began, his voice betraying what he was thinking.

“Don’t worry, Stark,” Jack said, turning and smiling. “I won’t kill them, no matter how much they beg.”

Watching Jack leave, Tony and Hank shared a look. They had been friends for years, ever since that first adventure against Loki, and they had seen a lot of Avengers come and go. The man who just left was perhaps the most difficult Avenger to stomach the majority of the time, but he was also one of the most committed to the work they did and whether he liked you or not, he’d back you with all he had because it was the right thing to do. Cross him, however, and you’d wish you hadn’t.

“He gonna lose it?” Hank asked Tony.

“I don’t know. Better tell Cap anyway.”

“Oh, this should be good.”

His tires left inches rubber on the pavement as he took off into the night; he’d left the shield activated so he could feel it clinging to his back, comforting him. He had to get to Custer’s Grove, tonight. He knew he could pull a few strings and get a flight. What he didn’t know was what he was going to do when he got there.

The Next Day

“Hi, Katie,” the man at the door said, smiling a lopsided grin. “Miss me?”

“JOHNNY!” his sister screamed, tearing open the screen door and flinging herself into her big brother’s arms. Smiling, Jack picked her up easily and they spun, just happy to see each other. The last time Katie had seen her brother physically was years ago just before he went into the service to be a Marine. Since then, she’d found out he had received a strength augmentation, become the Super Patriot, become the sixth Captain America, been forced to watch their parents be killed, then supposedly be killed himself, only to reappear as the USAgent, except he couldn’t tell her about his being alive for a few more years. So even when he’d called her up and told her the truth, she still hadn’t seen him in forever.

“My God, Johnny, you are an oxen!” she said, feeling his bulging, rocky arm. “You were always big growing up, but this is amazing.”

“Yeah, the Power Broker does good work, uh, for a scumbag that is,” Jack said, looking around. “Speaking of, where’s Dave?”

A bit of a bitter look crossed his sister’s face and she said, “Out with some friends of his. I swear, that man never grew up. I mean he obviously didn’t hear that part in the marriage vows about being with your wife till death do you part, because he sure as hell ain’t here that damned much. But enough about my choice in men, you get yourself in here and get to eating. One thing this Walker girl learned was how to cook a hungry man a meal.”

“I can smell it from here,” Jack said, dropping his bag on the floor. In his back pockets, he’d folded up the two mesh gloves Pym had given him and tucked them there so he wouldn’t be without his shield. His uniform shirt was under his sweatshirt and he’d replaced his skintight pants for military fatigues lined with Kevlar. They were bulkier, but less obvious and the pockets would be useful. It was time for a change, for USAgent to become something more than he’d been. The first step was appearance and the second would be actions.

He’d planned his modifications for months but hadn’t felt motivated to make the change until now. He’d changed more than his pants. Gone were the red floppy boots, replaced by the a darker red military style that allowed his feet to breath more and had strings for more secure binding than his old slip-ons. His mask had lost the wings and now would cover his ears in protective chain mail. His left side had an earpiece that linked to a communicator in case he needed it. It could pick up and listen in on radio, CB and cell phone emissions within a few miles, allowing him to track who was around him. His gloves were a darker red and less flared at the end. The white star on his back was gone, and the white bars on the front had been replaced by black, the reds had been darkened to match his boots. His shield, when manifested, no longer had white on it, strictly a black and red disk now. He had a utility belt of tools and other surprises in his duffel, the only thing that wouldn’t fit under his normal clothing, and adaptable for use on missions like this one.

He sat down with his sister and let her dote over him like a mother hen for a while and filling up on the first home cooked meal he’d had since Force Works had broken up. They ate and talked for over an hour about a lot of things, including Jack describing to her in detail what had happened in that barn that day years ago, when their parents had been slain. It was the first time he’d discussed it with anyone in full detail, and the first time he’d even spoken about it at length since he’d opened up to Bobbi Barton back in their West Coast Avengers days…before she’d died as well. He told Katie about Mockingbird too, things he hadn’t intended to tell, but it felt good just the same.

They were both crying and laughing when they heard someone pounding up the back steps and a voice roared out, “Woman! Why ain’t you got the clothes off the line yet? If yer sitting on yer…” David Tollifson stormed into his home but was unprepared for the sight that met him. Standing there was the biggest guy he’d ever seen, and the look on his face nearly made Dave wet himself.

Dave was a large man himself, but too many years of sitting around and drinking had taken their toll, and he wasn’t as spry as he had been in his youth. He’d been getting more exercise lately, but he felt a flash of jealousy at the youthful, powerful man in front of him. He also felt anger and fear, because he knew exactly who it was and, just by being in the kitchen, John Walker had just signed all three of their death certificates.

“Hello, Dave,” John said, his voice not hiding his contempt. “You got a problem?”

“Ah, no, why hello Johnny! Didn’t know you were coming in,” Dave said, tossing off a quick glance to Katie, who shrank back into her seat a little as she wiped the tears off of her cheeks. Seeing that, Jack saw red, but held himself in check. Obviously Katie hadn’t told Dave about talking to him on the phone a few years ago. Good, that meant Dave didn’t know about his alter ego, either.

“Sorry about the clothes, I was distracting her,” Jack said, no sorrow at all in his voice.

“Oh, now don’t you worry none! You two keep catching up, I know Kate ain’t seen hide nor hair of you in years and, with what happened to your folks place, you’ve got a lot to chat about. I’ll just run on out and take the linens in.”

“What?” Katie said, standing in shock. “Now honey, you don’t…”

“Enough,” Dave said, a tone more like what Jack figured he normally used evident in his voice. “I said I’ll git it. Sit down and talk.” Katie sat down quickly, and Dave nodded at John and turned and left in a hurry.

“Thoughtful, ain’t he?” Katie asked sarcastically.

“We had this talk before you married the idiot,” Jack said, turning around. Sometimes he thought of himself as two separate people, John Walker and Jack Daniels. Most times, especially when talking to his friends (all 2 or 3 of them) or his sister, he felt like the John he used to be. But in battle, or when he needed to be harsher on someone, he was Jack. It was something psychologists would love to have had a hold of, a modern day Jekell and Hyde. But aside from that, his tone and manner now were all Jack. Jack was the USAgent; John was simply the guy wearing the costume.

“I’ll help you get out, if you want,” he said as he turned for the stairs. “I’m going to use the restroom. Be right back.” He picked up his duffel as he went.

As he left the room, he caught a glimpse of his sister in the mirror and she was silently sobbing, her shoulders hunched and rocking. He thought to go to her, to hug her and say it was ok. But he had a hunch to play up on. His sister getting her life together would have to wait for a few days, but if he was right and his hunch played out, it would be just a few days.

He went into the bathroom and locked the door. He slid his mask up from off of his back from beneath his shirt and over his head. His earpiece slid into place over his ear and he used the buttons on his belt buckle to tune it in until he picked up just what he thought he would.

Dave’s voice: “Leader, this is Pup 66a. I have a problem!”

Unknown male voice: “What’s the problem, Pup?”

Dave: “My wife’s brother has shown up!”

Unknown: “Your family problems do not warrant breaking radio silence.”

Dave: “I know that, normally!” Realizing he was getting loud, Dave lowered his voice. “I know that normally sir, but you don’t understand. My brother-in-law is John Walker.”

The silence on the phone was absolute and a smile broke out on Jack’s face. He was feared, that was good. He could use that.

Unknown: “Why have you never told of this before, Pup?”

Dave: “Because he was thought to be dead, sir! I didn’t even know he was alive until I walked in the door. His face is a little different, but his attitude sure ain’t improved. What if he’s here for us?!”

Unknown: “Of course he is, fool! We sent him a calling card, remember? He is the USAgent, you simpleton.”

Dave: “WHAT?! Since when?”

Unknown: “Since always, imbecile! Why on Earth do you think we burned the Walker house down?!”

Dave: “Pup 65b told me it was just to erase old memories. Something to do with what happened years ago between the Watchdogs and Captain America when Kate’s folks were killed in a crossfire.”

Unknown: “Walker WAS Captain America at that time! You and 65b are fools who are no longer viable for the Pack. Good-bye, Mr. Tollifson, you will only hear from us one more time.”

Dave: “Wait! NO! You can’t be serious! I’ve been loyal!” But it was too late, the line went dead and Jack was already in motion.

Reaching into his duffel, he withdrew his utility belt and snapped it into place, attaching the two ends into his belt buckle. He then opened the window and jumped out onto the top of the house, then dropped down the back near the clothesline. He was between Dave and the house, and Dave was frantically punching buttons on a cellular phone when he saw Jack shuck his sweatshirt and pull his gloves on.

“You did this!” he screamed, hurling the phone at the fully dressed USAgent, who batted it away, as well as the punch that Dave threw. He grabbed a hold of the front of Dave’s shirt and easily lifted him off the ground.

“Listen to me,” Jack growled, his voice cold steel. “Get Katie and get to my Jeep out front. I’m going to get you out of this, because of her. But after that, you’re going to leave, forever. I don’t ever want to see you around my sister again. Do I make myself clear?”

“Wha…? You can’t be serious!”

Jack, knowing time was running out, began to shake Dave hard. “I am DAMNED serious! You either leave or I will send you to jail. You will leave Katie and if I ever hear of you so much as crossing the street against the light, I will track you down and beat you to death! Now, are we clear?!”

“Yes, we’re clear, I promise!”

“Good,” Jack said, dropping Dave. “Get Katie and get in the truck, now.” Dave scampered off and Jack leapt back up onto the roof, his enhanced musculature allowing him to do it with ease. He withdrew his compact binoculars and looked towards the main road. He saw dust clouds. He then scanned the rest of the perimeter and saw lots of dust clouds. He could also hear what sounded like ATVs coming towards them. “Damn, they’re fast. Like rabid mutts and rotted meat.”

He leapt off of the front of the house and landed behind Dave, who was trying to drag a crying Katie towards the Jeep John had arrived in. “Come on, damnit! We gotta go now or we’re dead!”

“Why?!” Katie screamed, still crying.

“Because they’re coming!” Dave said.

“WHO?!” she cried.

“My…my friends, the Watchdogs,” he admitted, stopping. John came up behind Katie, but didn’t interfere. It was time his sister heard the truth.

“The..the Watchdogs?” Katie felt the color drain from her face. “David…how could you? How DARE you?!”

“Honey, I…” Dave started before her hand flashed out and hit him in the face. Four deep, bloody claw marks stood out on his pale skin and, as the blood oozed down his chin, his tears began to fall. Not for pain, but out of shame.

“Don’t you DARE talk to me!” Katie screamed as she began to punch his chest. “They killed my parents! MY PARENTS! Shot them in cold blood because Johnny did what was right and stopped them! And you followed them? Were FRIENDS with them? You go to Hell!”

“I…” he tried again, but was cut off by the USAgent, who moved in and put an arm around Katie’s waist, moving her towards the Jeep. He grabbed Dave’s arm roughly, dragging him.

“Enough talk. We’ve got to go. Those sons of dogs are almost here.” The Jeep he had brought was a black Wrangler with a canvas top. He grasped the canvas and tore it off, then hopped into the small back area. “You two sit up front, the glass in the doors and the front is bulletproof. You drive, Dave, and don’t slow down for my sake.”

“Where are we going?” Dave asked as he started the truck and pulled out quickly. His face was dripping blood and in pain, but he didn’t bother with it.

“The old mine road out back. I can hear them coming through the woods and the main way. If we can loose them on the back roads, we might find a way to survive this.” Dave cut the wheel sharply, angling across the expansive front yard and heading for the back of the house. Just that moment, the main contingent of Dogs came up the front drive and began blasting away at them with hunting rifles.
With a mental command, Agent’s shield burst forward from left his arm and deflected the shots. His normal shield was roughly 2.5 feet across, whereas the Jeep was around 5. He tried to block all the shots, but knew he couldn’t get them all. He concentrated and suddenly the shield grew until it was 5 feet in diameter, but still the same weight. “All right!” he crowed. “I’ll kiss Pym for this!”

Just then Dave hit a tree stump and nearly pitched the Agent out. He grasped the roll cage on the Jeep, flattening the metal with his grip, but holding on. He peered over his shield and saw three pickup trucks of Dogs coming at them, and that all the ones in the woods had appeared on four-wheelers or motorcycles. He counted at least three-dozen mutts in total, but none of the members of the Pack that Stark had told him about.

He hunkered down behind his shield and looked out the front glass to see the opening in the trees for the old mine road. He knew the Jeep could make the trip, and at a high enough rate of speed, but so could most of the Dogs behind him. He had to draw them off, give Dave time to get Katie out of here. Reaching into his belt, he pulled out a handful of miniaturized grenades.

“David!” he said roughly, leaning up behind the man’s ear. “Promise me you’ll get Katie out of here, no matter what occurs. Promise me!”

“John, what…?” Katie asked, looking back.

Dave met the USAgent’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “I promise, John.”

“I dare you to break that promise,” Jack said, with a steel-hard stare. “Get her out.” He looked at Katie and his gaze softened. “I love you, sis.”

He then turned and leapt off the back of the Jeep, tossing the grenades at the trees at the edge of the opening the Jeep just passed through. The explosions tore into the foliage, toppling trees across the road, effectively sealing the path.

Now came the hard part.